Party funds, spending grow

†

Expanded programs need cash.
by Jack Uhrich, Finance Director †

Wed 10/01/03†
GreenPages, Vol 7, No.3

The Green Party of the United States (GP-US) adopted its first growth plan and fundraising budget in August, 2001. By the end of 2001, the party had raised nearly $100,000 and doubled its list of donors from 500 to 1,000 people.

In 2002, the GP-US used direct solicitations, mailings, a “1,000 for 1,000” sustaining donor campaign and celebrity fundraising events to help it grow fivefold, raising $482,000 and increasing its donor base to more than 6,000 people.†

The money the GP-US raised in 2002 enabled it to open a national office in Washington, D.C., to provide the financial support necessary to maintain a national website, to publish the quarterly newspaper, Green Pages, to professionalize the work of the Green Party standing committees ñ steering, fundraising, coordinated campaign, diversity, finance, merchandising, accreditation and presidential exploratory ñ and to provide technical and concrete financial support ($33,000) to affiliated state Green Parties.

In 2003, the goals of the GP-US are to maintain its national office, to expand staff, to increase diversity outreach efforts with the creation of series of working identity caucuses that will target their constituencies and to provide campaign and fundraising workshops around the country to help more Greens learn how elect more Greens to office.†

In 2003, national Green Party standing committees began participating in their own fundraising. The Fundraising Committee also has been encouraging state and local Green parties to work more with it on joint fundraising efforts, and it has been teaching them new fundraising skills.

The party is also increasingly professionalizing its outreach tools for major donors in the $1,000 to $20,000 range. It has begun to explore phonathons and online outreach as additional fundraising tools.

As of the end of June 2003, the GP-US has raised $283,802, approximately 60 percent more than it had raised last year at this time ($176,750).

The party now has a sustainer base bringing in more than $10,000 a month. This sustainer income guarantees the maintainenance of the office, staff and support for national committees into the foreseeable future.†

However, if the party is to implement new and important outreach and coordinated campaign programs, it needs to raise money at an even greater rate than presently.

Many people are putting their money and hopes into Democratic presidential candidacies in the hopes of beating President Bush in 2004.†

At the same time, whatever happens in November 2004, the party will need thriving institutions in December and for years to come.

The Fundraising Committee is telling Green supporters that if they want there to be a Green Party at that point, they need to support the Green Party now and on an ongoing basis.